Protecting What Matters Most: Quality Winemaking with the Smart Press
April 07, 2025

The new Smart Press range of pneumatic presses meets the needs of the most demanding winemakers. These presses are equipped with the latest innovations. The Fast Press drainage grids and the smart pressing system allow optimal use of the press to extract high quality juices. The Smart Press range of pneumatic presses, from 20 to 150 hl, with open or closed cage, meets the needs of all types of cellar.

The Smart Press by Pellenc is designed with one goal in mind: to deliver exceptional juice quality while optimizing time, energy, and labor. From the first drop, juices are directed into a closed, inerted vat, protecting delicate aromas and preserving vibrant color. Easy Press 2 smart pressing cycles maintain consistent quality, while self-filtering through the press cake ensures clear, non-cloudy juice. With built-in Ingas and Enoxy+ systems, oxidation is minimized at every stage, resulting in better-protected, more valuable juice.

Beyond quality, the Smart Press is a cost-effective solution built for performance. Faster cycle times and increased filling capacity boost overall efficiency, while water and energy savings support more sustainable operations. The ability to customize pressing cycles based on the desired profile gives producers greater control and flexibility. It’s also suited for skin maceration, expanding its versatility in the winery. And with qualified on-site maintenance and responsive after-sales support, it’s a long-term investment in reliability.

These innovations translate to real-world results, as shared by Razvan Macici, Head Winemaker at Distell in South Africa:

“We are very satisfied with the performance of this new press. It is both faster and quieter. The drains are completely different from the ones on the old presses. With the drip trays, there is more drainage surface, so drainage is faster. This means we can put more grapes into the press via the axial feed. Pressing is also faster. The interface is very easy to use, and pressing cycles can be adjusted easily. The closed juice tray, and the injection of nitrogen and SOâ‚‚ minimize oxidation. Nitrogen is injected during filling via the trays and the SOâ‚‚ is injected onto the pomace to prevent oxidation and extract lovely green juices.

We have had excellent results in our wines. The rosés show great promise, with the lovely colors our customers are looking for, and our white Sauvignon explodes with wonderful aromas of tropical fruit. Washing is very efficient. We used the automatic washing cycle every day to clean under the trays. Once a week we remove the trays for more thorough cleaning. They are very easy to open as there is just one bolt for each tray, which you just swing out to clean underneath. It takes us about 30 minutes to open the trays, clean underneath, and close them again. We are very satisfied with the quality of our Pera press and the excellent service we receive.”

Whether you're focused on protecting the integrity of your fruit or maximizing efficiency during harvest, the Smart Press offers an intuitive, high-performance solution trusted by leading winemakers around the world.

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